“Team works! and the AGYO offer a unique opportunity to use your expertise to make a long-lasting contribution to development cooperation work."

My internship was at St. Kizito Hospital in Matany, Uganda. The hospital provides health services to the inhabitants of the remote region of Karamojong and it’s known for being a referral facility and having the only functional x-ray unit in the area. The technical department currently has three electricians who are responsible for maintaining electrical installations. There are major challenges due to frequent power failures and difficulties obtaining spare parts because of the remote location. Working with my tandem team partner, my main tasks were to provide technical support and advice, document and digitise electrical installations, roll out an “e-check” system for safety assessments, help with fault diagnosis and install new electrical equipment, especially in the new neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). My colleagues and I discussed things as equals, something that happened quite naturally, and that was at least as important to me as the work itself. Working with them was amazingly insightful and we learned a lot from each other.

I came to appreciate how important teamwork is in challenging environments. I was particularly impressed by how calmly and professionally my colleagues worked even in crisis situations like power failures. I also learned a lot about the specific electrical infrastructure requirements hospitals have - especially the importance of safeguarding against failures because lives are at risk if something goes wrong.

I was able to share my electrical engineering knowledge, particularly on how to carry out safety assessments and fault diagnosis. We also took a new electrical testing device with us, which they can now use.

Team works! and the AGYO offer a unique opportunity to use your expertise to make a long-lasting contribution to development cooperation work. I think the combination of learning on an individual level and providing help at the local level is a great idea. One of my main reasons for choosing the programme was that it aims to bring people together to work as equals, learn from each other and break down prejudices. I’m particularly pleased the AGYO has now given one of my colleagues in Uganda, Matthew, the chance to do an internship at my firm in Germany. I’m really looking forward to continuing our shared learning journey.

I was amazed by the way the team and the local community welcomed us so openly and warmly. Another thing that surprised me was the calm and level-headed way people overcame difficult situations - like making considered decisions to ensure health services in the face of power failures lasting several days.

Wolfgang, who’s an experienced manager, and I were able to combine our different strengths to ideal effect in our team. He applied his knowledge of documentation and spare parts procurement whilst I drew on my practical electrical engineering and fault diagnosis skills. Our complementary skills helped make work more efficient in various areas.

Be open to new experiences and willing to adjust. It’s important to show respect towards and interest in the local culture and treat the people you’re working with as equals. It’s also an invaluable opportunity to grow both in terms of your expertise and your personal development.

1. I learned a lot from working closely with people from different cultural backgrounds. It’s improved my ability to see other people’s points of view in international contexts.
2. I saw how my colleagues remained calm and level-headed during serious situations like a power failure that lasted several days and during which there was only one emergency generator supplying the entire hospital. They looked for and identified the best solution, taking into account unusual but effective methods I wouldn’t have thought of. Their considered approach, completely devoid of panic, during what could have been a fatal situation for the patients, left a lasting impression on me.
3. I was moved by how open and welcoming people were towards me. It only took a few days to feel like I’d been part of their community for ages. The opportunity to experience the culture and society as it really is left quite an impression and was very educational.

The way the team welcomed me so warmly and so unreservedly and the impressive professionalism with which challenges were overcome. And the country’s cultural diversity, as reflected in its wide range of languages, traditions and ways of living.